Clean art

From
Jacques Franck

Andy Coghlan’s article “Layers of meaning” (December 23/30) throws much-needed light on the worrying, pseudoscientific cleaning methods which have found favour in Anglo-Saxon countries since the Second World War.

Mark Richmond’s dismissive characterisation of claims that solvents damage paint films as being “based on aesthetics or emotions” is unfounded and, therefore, is itself unscientific. These claims have emanated not from misinformed art lovers but from internationally eminent chemists and physicists after decades of rigorous research.

If I may provide an example&colon; last year, when the Louvre was considering carrying out restoration on its Leonardos, my call for caution and restraint …